Fathers on Leave Alone: Setting the Scene

O’Brien, Margaret; Wall, Karin

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-42970-0_1

Cited by 18 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Qualitative studies have elicited more nuanced data, but usually draw on retrospective accounts of parents’ leave-making decisions. This is problematic since previous research has shown how accounts for leave-taking decisions can change over time (O'Brien and Twamley, 2017). An exception is Grunow and Evertsson's (2016) recent cross-European study 5 exploring dual-earner couples’ transitions to parenthood.…”

Section: What Is Known About Fathers’ Leave In the Uk?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We investigate whether a hypothetical situation, with an individualised leave entitlement of a similar duration for fathers to that which is currently available for mothers, would increase take-up intentions in the UK. Furthermore, previous studies have shown that fathers’ leave take-up rises the longer the leave entitlement has been in place and the more ‘normal’ take-up by fathers is perceived to be (Rege and Solli, 2013; O'Brien and Wall, 2017). Regarding these contextual features, we therefore formulate the following two hypotheses: H1: A hypothetical individual leave entitlement of 37 weeks for each parent would be associated with a greater likelihood of planned take-up of Shared Parental Leave.H2: A fictitious description of more widespread use among social networks would be positively associated with planned take-up of Shared Parental Leave.…”

Section: Theoretical Framework For Investigating Leave-taking Plans Imentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shared Parental Leave: Exploring Variations in Attitudes, Eligibility, Knowledge and Take-up Intentions of Expectant Mothers in London

Twamley

Schober

2018

J. Soc. Pol.

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In April 2015, the UK introduced Shared Parental Leave (SPL), allowing mothers to transfer their maternity leave to their partners from two weeks after the birth or adoption of a child. There has been very limited research conducted on this leave policy to date and knowledge on take-up is poor. We present findings from an in-depth survey conducted with expectant mothers in two NHS trusts in England on their knowledge, views and plans around leave after the birth of their child and examine variations across educational and ethnic groups. A total of 575 expectant mothers took part in the survey. Around 7.4 per cent of expectant mothers who were (self-)employed or in education intended to take SPL. Finances and worries over fathers’ careers were cited as the primary barriers to take up of SPL. Individual entitlement for fathers and knowing others who took SPL increased individuals’ reported intention to take SPL. Applying logistic regression models, we found that knowledge of and access to SPL is correlated with education, ethnicity and home ownership. Future research and policy design should attend to such issues to ensure equitable access across families.

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Section: What Is Known About Fathers’ Leave In the Uk?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Framework For Investigating Leave-taking Plans Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Shared Parental Leave: Exploring Variations in Attitudes, Eligibility, Knowledge and Take-up Intentions of Expectant Mothers in London

Twamley

Schober

2018

J. Soc. Pol.

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“…There is a lack of studies on how parents experience the sharing of parental leave (O'Brien & Wall, 2017). Despite the fact that Sweden's generous family policy gives parents the opportunity to share the parental leave equally, fathers' and mothers' experiences of shifting caregiver roles remain underexplored.…”

Section: Aims and Scopementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet knowledge is limited about how parents' division of parental leave make imprints in the dynamics of family relationships and the influence on parental roles from both parents' perspectives (Rehel, 2014). Psychological research on what happens within the family when fathers become primary caregivers in the context of equally shared parental leave is scant (O'Brien & Wall, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“I believe it’s important for kids to know they have two parents”: Parents’ experiences of equally shared parental leave in Sweden

Lidbeck

Boström

2020

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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Mothers tend to be the primary caregivers of infants, but some governments encourage fathers to share this responsibility. The Swedish national parental insurance gives parents the opportunity to share their parental leave equally. This qualitative study explored experiences of equally shared parental leave and increased paternal involvement from the perspectives of both parents. Cohabiting mothers and fathers of 12 infants were interviewed individually. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three main themes were formed: (a) holding on to equal opportunities (b) transition of responsibility and control, and (c) gaining a mutual understanding. At the time around the shift, i.e. when the father took over as primary caregiver, parents described that they were holding on to the ideal of equality despite challenges, such as various degrees of emotional strain. They also emphasized the importance of mother’s trust in the father’s parenting skills, and for the father to hold on to daily routines when taking over the caregiving responsibilities. Sharing parental leave equally appeared to enrich the couple relationship by fostering a mutual understanding of each other’s experiences. In policy and practice, both parents’ engagement in the caregiving of young children needs to be recognized as changes in parental roles and gender norms evolve in modern family life.

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“…Research performed in Scandinavian countries has developed this idea extensively, pointing to the necessary structural reforms that are needed in order to advance in gender equality and increase the involvement of fathers in family life through the implementation of father friendly policies (Gornick & Meyers, 2009; Haas, 1992; O’Brien & Wall, 2017).…”

Section: Background: Involved Fatherhood and Social Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Involved Fatherhood Possible? Structural Elements Influencing the Exercise of Paternity in Spain and Norway

Miguel

Gandasegui

Gorfinkiel

2019

Journal of Family Issues

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This article analyses the different ways in which fatherhood is exercised in Spain and Norway. Family transformations and the redefinition of social roles assigned to men and women have brought changes in the meanings ascribed to paternity by Western societies. The two countries analyzed have undergone these changes in different ways, as they reflect different social interpretations about fathering, dissimilar participation of women in the labor market and diverse development of family policies. The aim of the article is therefore to analyze the structural elements that shape the behavior of fathers in Spain and Norway. Methodological triangulation was applied, combining in-depth interviews in both countries with a quantitative analysis of the main databases within this area. The empirical analysis is undertaken within the structural theory perspective, which takes into account the existence of elements external to the families which influence the distribution of work within the private sphere.

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Fathers on Leave Alone: Setting the Scene

Cited by 18 publications

References 42 publications

Shared Parental Leave: Exploring Variations in Attitudes, Eligibility, Knowledge and Take-up Intentions of Expectant Mothers in London

Shared Parental Leave: Exploring Variations in Attitudes, Eligibility, Knowledge and Take-up Intentions of Expectant Mothers in London

“I believe it’s important for kids to know they have two parents”: Parents’ experiences of equally shared parental leave in Sweden

Is Involved Fatherhood Possible? Structural Elements Influencing the Exercise of Paternity in Spain and Norway

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